Japan: Abe Delays National Election

Prime Minister Shinzo Abe delayed the critical upper house election by a week, to July 29 from July 22, by extending Parliament’s current session by 12 days, in what was seen as a desperate move to regain popular support and dampen widespread anger over the government’s admission that it had misplaced payment information for millions of pensioners. Polls show that support for Mr. Abe and his Liberal Democratic Party has fallen dangerously low among potential voters, with the main opposition Democratic Party scoring higher in some polls. A significant defeat could put pressure on Mr. Abe to step down as party leader and prime minister, though his party would keep the prime minister’s post through its control over the lower house.